Shane Watson's unbelievable run in the ICC World Twenty20continued as he virtually assured Australia a place in the semi-finals of theevent with a comfortable eight-wicket win over South Africa in the their secondSuper Eights match here on Sunday.
Chasing a modest target of 147, Watson once again showed hisall-round prowess with a smashing 70 off 47 balls after taking two importantwickets as Australia reached the target with 14 balls to spare.
His innings included eight boundaries and two sixes offleft-arm spinner Robin Peterson and that fetched him his fourth consecutiveman-of-the-match award.
Watson has so far scored 234 runs in four matches at anastonishing average of 78, not to forget the 10 wickets that he has taken.
Watson's 99-run second wicket partnership with theever-dependable Mike Hussey (45 not out) laid the foundation of the Australianchase.
When Watson finally got out at the team score on 109, thevictory was just round the corner.
After Morne Morkel and Dale Steyn had kept the Australiansquiet for the first five overs, the counter-attack started in the sixth withWatson hitting Morkel for three boundaries. The first boundary was hit throughpoint, the second through covers and the third one through the short fine leg.
With 15 runs coming from that over, the Australian inningsfinally got the momentum it required.
There was no stopping Watson after that as he played shotsall round the wicket. When Peterson dropped it short, he rocked back to pull itover deep mid-wicket. When Parnel bowled it short, he pulled over square legfor a six which also brought up his third half century in the tournament
